When 2011 begins, at least as it pertains to the NFL, remains an unknown as players and owners inch toward a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, deciding how to split revenues of $9 billion (and growing).

But indications – including what league sources described as a draft of a new CBA “floating around the league” – are that a deal will be completed sooner than later. Still, one source also cautioned that many reports of details emerging from the past few weeks of meetings between the sides are erroneous and/or premature.

The specifics remain to be decided, and we’re likely at least three weeks from anything officially being set in motion, since the league has said it will not begin any business until a new CBA is actually signed.

But numerous reports regarding one major component of a new CBA have stated that the agreement will include a provision that not only sets the ’11 salary cap between $120-130 million but requires teams to spend at least 90 percent of that – in real money.

The salary cap was previously inclusive of prorated monies from bonuses, but the new structure, according to multiple reports, is likely to measure only “cash” (salary and bonuses) paid in a specific year.

That means more money for free agents, as well as incentive for teams to rework contracts of current players.

One prominent agent said last week he sees the new CBA benefiting veterans whose contracts are almost up as much as it does the current crop of free agents.

“I think the teams are going to use the money to extend their veterans,” the agent said. “Especially since (the teams) haven’t been able to do a lot of long-term deals the past couple years with all the uncertainty.”

The Chargers have long been known to be planning a return to their core principle of signing their own players to long-term contracts, something they did dozens of times between 2006 and '08 but rarely since then.

That could mean as much to Nick Hardwick, Shaun Phillips and Antoine Cason as it does to current free agents Jeromey Clary, Kevin Burnett and Eric Weddle.

The Chargers players currently under contract are due to make slightly less than $70 million this season. That figure demonstrates a healthy sum to be spent before the start of the season, but it is largely insignificant since a few of those players figure to be released and the Chargers have a number of starters (at least three) and other players to sign once free agency begins. Those “other” players include draft picks and likely include receiver Vincent Jackson, who stands to make $12 million in 2011 as the Chargers’ franchise player.

The starters they need to sign – in case you have forgotten over the course of the 114-day lockout – include at least one inside linebacker, a right tackle and free safety.

The Chargers are also looking for another pass rusher and depth at center and offensive tackle.